Improvement in surgical splints



W. W. KOEHLER. Surgical-Splint.

No. 223,049. Paterited Dec. 30,1879..

Minwm Immibz' I M JM%%M .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER W. KOEHLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND FRANKLIN KOEHLER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SURGICAL SPLINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,049, dated December 30, 1879; application filed February 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. KOEHLER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Surgical Splints, of which thefollowing is a specification.

It has been usual in the treatment of fractured limbs and in similar surgical operations to employ splin ts, generically so termed. These splints are of various kinds. One va riety, very commonly used, is made of strips of any suitable fabric dipped in a fresh solution of plaster-of-paris, and which is wound upon or applied to the part before the solidification of the plaster, so that when the plaster hardens, as it does in a few minutes, it becomes firm, and being snugly molded upon the part, sustains the same. This kind of splint, however, requires to be made on the spot when its use is required, and it cannot, therefore, be made and kept in stock, or sold as a staple article in the trade.

My said invention comprises the combination of these three elements, to wit: One or more layers or thicknesses of glue capable of being rendered soft and plastic by the aid of heat and moisture; a sheet of textile material provided to insure the continuity of the glue and to give tensile strength to the splint, and one or more external sheets of thin material to prevent the adhesion of the glue to the skin or flesh of the part to which the splint may be applied.

These elements are arranged and combined as follows, reference being bad to the accompan yin g drawing, making part of this specification, in which the fabric A is of burlaps or like heavy textile material. This is coated with a thick solution of glue until one or both surfaces have deposited thereon a layer or thickness of the glue, as shown at B.

This operation is best performed by laying the fabric upon a waxed board, and then spreading the layer, as glue, (in solution,) upon the same, the fabric being first moistened to insure the more ready adhesion of the glue. This done on one or both sides of the fabric, there is pressed upon the glue a sheet or sheets, O, of muslin or like material, which attaches itself to the external surfaces of the glue.

When desired, the thickness of the layer or layers of glue may be regulated by passing the whole as thus prepared between rollers gaged at a suitable distance apart. The whole is then allowed to harden by drying, and is then ready for storing, sale, or use.

In order to apply the splint it is only necessary to cut the material formed and put together as just hereinbefore described to whatever circumferential shape may be required, according as the splint is to be applied to an arm, leg, or other portion of the person, and to dip it into hot water, hold it in the steam or vapor of water, or otherwise subject it to the action of heat and moisture; whereupon, the glue becoming soft and pliant, the material may be pressed and molded upon the injured part with nearly as much facility as a wet cloth, the glue being held together or in complete continuity by the thick fabric A, which also gives desirable bulk or volume to the splint. Being then left to itself the glue of course again becomes hard, firm, and rigid, thereby sustaining the injured part in the most complete manner. Meanwhile the thin outer sheet upon the glue, being interposed between the latter and the skin or flesh of the part to which the splint is applied, prevents the glue from fastening it self to the person; and, aside from the avoidance of personal discomfort to the patient, insures the comparatively easy detachment of the splints when its use is no longer required.

I do not claim a splint composed of textile material coated with plaster-of-paris; neither do I claim a splint composed of felt saturated with shellac, either with or without a lining of silk to allay irritation, as such are widely different in character, in mode of use and operation, and in results from my aforesaid invention.

What I do claim as my invention is- As a new article of manufacture, the hereindescribed material for surgical splints, composed of one or more layers, B, of glue, a sheet, A. of textile material provided to insure continuity to the glue, and a sheet or sheets, 0, of thin fabric externally applied upon the layer or layers of glue, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

WALTER W. KOEHLER.

Witnesses:

W. B. WHITNEY, H. F. PARKER. 

